A full bloodied ghost story from one of the screens best directors. Set in a remote boys school during the Spanish civil war, del Toro manages to craft a chilling tale without the use of typical cheap shocks.
Due to the wonderful acting, we really care for the characters, rooting for them to pull through when the going gets tough. Artfully shot, the director brings the stark beauty of the buildings and surrounding landscape to life, only helping to add to the feeling of isolation permeating the film.
It’s a real skill to make a ghost story that doesn’t need relay of the sudden jumps and loud noises tricks to get a reaction from the audience and still remain frightening, yet this film manages it ten fold. Showing the viewer that it’s not always the fear of the dead that can be the most terrifying, live ones can be pretty scary too.
If you’ve not seen it, or aren’t usually a fan of chillers, give this one a shot.
A standout film in it’s own right and one of the greatest movies ever.